Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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The pup sellers of North Britain – musings on promises of Union reform.

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By stewartb – a long read As 2024 ends, we also leave behind the ‘honeymoon period’ (sic) of the new Westminster Labour government.  A time for casting minds back to past promises and for musing on prospects for ‘change’. In Westminster, the Labour government recently announced appointments to the House of Lords. These were well trailed. From Labour List (June 21, 2023): ‘New peer plan raises questions about Labour’s Lords abolition intentions’ – ‘comments by a source close to the leadership in the Times calling Lords reform “hardly mission critical” to the first three years of a Labour government will … Continue reading The pup sellers of North Britain – musings on promises of Union reform.

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Talking-up Scotland 10 Year Anniversary

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Professor John Robertson OBA Just about 11 years ago, I published this research report, revealing clear media bias against the Yes campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. It went viral in the following days and weeks. See: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/bbc-bias-and-scots-referendum-new-report/ BBC Scotland challenged the findings and reported me for ‘professional misconduct‘ to my employer – the University of the West of Scotland. After a nervous month or so, no action against me was taken. In March 2014, I was called by the Scottish Parliament to defend my work. See: I was followed by four of the BBC Scotland … Continue reading Talking-up Scotland 10 Year Anniversary

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Lib Dems find Scottish Nurses lose 3 days a year to mental health problems, fewer than UK average of 8

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In another of their many, waste-of-public-funds-to-dig-dirt-on-SNP, freedom of information requests, the Lib Dems in the Daily Record on Boxing Day: More than 700,000 days of nursing and midwifery staff time have been lost due to mental ill health since 2020, according to figures obtained by the Scottish Lib Dems. Freedom of information data showed 762,975 days were lost across the 14 territorial health boards. NHS Lanarkshire had the highest total in 2023/24, at 24,342 days lost. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/more-700000-nursing-days-lost-34374193 There are 65 270 nurses and midwives employed by NHS Scotland. https://www.nursingtimes.net/workforce/scottish-nursing-vacancies-falling-but-still-stubbornly-high-06-12-2023/#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20nurses%20and,in%20response%20to%20the%20figures.&text=The%20numbers%2C%20published%20in%20a,working%20in%20the%20health%20service. Most UK full-time employees work around 260 days per year. https://zelt.app/blog/how-many-working-days-are-in-one-year/ So Scotland’s nurses … Continue reading Lib Dems find Scottish Nurses lose 3 days a year to mental health problems, fewer than UK average of 8

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Lib Dems find nothing useful on part-time unpaid police officers who make up 2% of the best staffed force in the UK

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From STV yesterday: Numbers of special constables within Police Scotland have fallen by 73% since the national police service was formed, the Scottish Lib Dems say. Figures obtained by the party through freedom of information show there were 383 special constables in 2023/24. This is a decrease from 1,394 in 2013. The special constabulary is trained to the same standard as the rest of the police service, however, it operates on a volunteer basis. Lib Dem justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: “Special constables are an important link between communities and the police service because they can provide valuable local knowledge. … Continue reading Lib Dems find nothing useful on part-time unpaid police officers who make up 2% of the best staffed force in the UK

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“Scotland is now a dysfunctional example of failed devolution funded by English taxpayers”

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Anonymous Reform UK party ? Here are some actual snippets from Rupert Lowe’s speech at their 2024 Reform UK party conference , he is one of their new MP’s, from 2024 GE, for the constituency of Great Yarmouth, England. (Currently all 5 of their MP’s are elected in ENGLAND , one being a Tory defector, as in 30p Lee). So one or two snippets that Rupert said in his conference speech: “Defund the monopolistic malign BBC” (That’s the same BBC that Nigel Farage has frequently appeared in , on BBC QT as a member of the BBC QT panel, many many times actually, as has Richard Tice , but Richard Tice has also appeared on BBC ‘Politics Live’ as has … Continue reading “Scotland is now a dysfunctional example of failed devolution funded by English taxpayers”

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Only BBC Scotland attempts a scare on a supposed ‘flu surge’ despite admitting ‘relatively little pressure’ in the country with the most GPs, nurses and beds and the cleanest hospitals

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland today, above and with this contradictory evidence further down:: The data found, external that among care homes in the country a “substantial number” had found influenza circulating, but residents were confirmed as having taken the flu vaccine to combat it. PHS noted only “a small number of deaths” had been reported among care homes. For intensive care units, the flu had caused “relatively little pressure” but PHS noted there was one case of a pregnant woman admitted to ICU due to influenza in the most recent reporting. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2l96730lyo BBC England? No flu surge in England? Well: Flu … Continue reading Only BBC Scotland attempts a scare on a supposed ‘flu surge’ despite admitting ‘relatively little pressure’ in the country with the most GPs, nurses and beds and the cleanest hospitals

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Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s ‘doublethinktank’ reveals high failure rate amongst pupils not actually sitting exams

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I had to pinch myself when I read today from BBC Scotland: Pass rates for Scottish pupils in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects are “very worrying”, according to a report by education experts. The Commission on School Reform analysed exam pass rates for secondary pupils taking National 5 subjects with data going back to 2015. Only 40.1% of fourth year pupils – typically aged 14-16 years old – achieved a pass rate for National 5 mathematics in 2024, while 75.2% passed English. Just over 25% passed the most popular science subject, biology. The Scottish government said that not … Continue reading Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s ‘doublethinktank’ reveals high failure rate amongst pupils not actually sitting exams

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Despite rumoured Reform membership surge across the UK, they are far less strong in Scotland, the SNP is still 12 times greater and Scottish Labour are keeping quiet

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According to the Herald today, Reform membership across the UK has reached 131 680, just ahead of the UK Conservative Party. In Scotland, however, pro rata, they seem top have only 5 844 whereas, all things being equal, they’d have around 12 000. The SNP membership though down, is, according to BBC Scotland, still 12 times stronger, at 64 525. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceq5yqq91ppo Scottish Labour membership? Who knows. Continue reading Despite rumoured Reform membership surge across the UK, they are far less strong in Scotland, the SNP is still 12 times greater and Scottish Labour are keeping quiet

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Scottish rep for global group responsible for wage theft from low-paid and the erosion of public services is in Scotsman to suggest Scotland has ‘poor public services’

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The above is in the Scotsman today to tell us: How Scotland can escape vicious circle of ill-health, unemployment and poor public services Newcastle is not far away but, typically, he knows nothing about public services in Scotland. He clearly is ignorant of the facts on public services in Scotland, as opposed to in Newcastle. How about? More GPs, doctors, nurses, midwives, beds, home health visitors, fewer strikes, shortest NHS waiting lists, with consequent lowest stillbirth in UK, lowest Covid deaths in UK, lowest Covid care home deaths in UK, fewest (zero) hospitals in special measures…… More police officers per … Continue reading Scottish rep for global group responsible for wage theft from low-paid and the erosion of public services is in Scotsman to suggest Scotland has ‘poor public services’

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Scottish Government-funded affordable homes bring Christmas Cheer to Leith and Queensferry

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Christmas Cheers also to JB for alerting me to this. Completely missed by BBC Scotland, the Herald and the Scotsman, two very Christmassy tales from Scottish Construction Now, which I feel sure all Scots (English Scots, Ukrainian Scots, Syrian Scots etc) would have liked to hear of: and For the full stories: https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/work-starts-on-23-affordable-homes-at-queensferry-site https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/tenants-settle-into-new-affordable-homes-in-leith I’m betting readers know of other similar good deeds not getting much interest from BBC Scotland, the Herald and the Scotsman – tell us below. Ah but, Santa, what about all the other folk? Hasn’t the Santa National Party let them down over the years? Nope, … Continue reading Scottish Government-funded affordable homes bring Christmas Cheer to Leith and Queensferry